Teresa Harris, Ph.D.

Teresa Harris, Ph.D., is Professor and Department Head, Early, Elementary, and Reading Education, at James Madison University. As an early childhood educator, she has worked in the area of educational policies and practices that support the healthy development of young children and their families through her work with the Virginia Department of Education, in her role as consultant to schools, and as a teacher educator working with pre-service and in-service teachers. Recognizing the global nature of education and the increasing diversity in American schools, her most recent work has shifted to examining educational practices in South Africa. Through field-based experiential studies with in-service and pre-service teachers, she is learning with her students about the languages, cultures, histories, and socio-political contexts that impact teaching and learning with the goal of increasing cultural competence and understanding of teachers who work with children and their families.